2016 Honda Pilot Spy Photos: Longer, Less Blocky, More Acura-Like

The Pilot charts a course on the heading M-D-X.

What It Is: Honda’s long-overdue replacement for the aging Pilot crossover, caught testing in what appears to be production-ready bodywork, complete with Honda badges. Of course, we can’t make out much of the sheetmetal because these prototypes snapped by our spy photographers are generously covered in loose black camouflage.

Why It Matters: The current Pilot has existed in more or less the same basic form since 2009, with its only update coming in the 2012 model year, when Honda stripped the SUV of its bizarre-looking “cyborg” grille treatment. Nearly six years ago, the Pilot literally drove away from the competition, having had a considerable head-start on most three-row-crossover competitors. Just about everyone has now abandoned the truck-based body-on-frame format for the lighter and more carlike crossover blueprint, and Honda’s edge in the segment has dulled. Having placed dead last in its most recent comparison test, the Pilot needs to re-establish Honda as the go-to brand for three-row, mid-size crossovers.

Platform: In the past, the Pilot has shared its bones with Acura’s MDX luxury crossover, and the basic profile of this test mule indicates that will continue to be the case. There is a lot more rear overhang on this prototype than on past Pilots, and the wheelbase-to-overhang relationships are very current-gen MDX. Underneath, what few suspension pieces are visible look very similar to those on the MDX, especially at the rear. The roof appears longer, suggesting that the new Pilot’s third-row seats may offer increased space and comfort.

Only a handful of details are visible through the Pilot’s camouflage, but from what we can see, the SUV’s styling will incorporate a mix of new and old cues. The taillights appear to mimic the squarish units on today’s model, while the headlights have morphed into sleek, horizontal, Accord-like pieces. From where we sit, it looks like there’s maybe one grille opening too many on the front end, but we’ll need to wait for the camouflage to come off to pass final judgment. One thing’s for sure: The outgoing Pilot’s Automoblox look is dead and gone. It should for the first time in a while, carry a familial resemblance to Honda’s smaller CR-V compact and HR-V subcompact crossovers.

Powertrain: Just as the Pilot today offers only a single engine, so, too, will the new model. We don’t see anything other than Honda’s latest direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 providing motivation to the front wheels or—optionally—all four wheels. We expect the current Pilot’s AWD system to continue in the new version of the crossover; from a cost standpoint, Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive with rear-axle torque-vectoring is probably off-limits for Hondas.

When it comes to transmissions, however, Honda might have a slew of choices from the Honda/Acura parts bin. The Pilot most likely will get the same six-speed automatic used by the Accord V-6. On the other hand, fuel-economy requirements are getting tougher, so the ZF-built nine-speed automatic from the 2015 Acura TLX V-6 sedan should be mighty tempting for Honda product planners. In that car, the transmission bolts up to—you guessed it—the Accord’s 3.5-liter V-6. The only hitch is that Acura could potentially claim the ZF ’box for itself: The brand had to pony up serious money to tweak the ubiquitous Honda V-6 block to accept the ZF transmission in the TLX. But any opportunity to amortize those costs over more vehicles (such as the Pilot) would make sense.

Estimated Arrival and Price: Provided the bodywork beneath these Pilots’ coverup is production-ready (or close to it), we can expect the 2016 Pilot to debut quite soon. The Los Angeles auto show in the fall would line up nicely with an on-sale date in early 2015. Given the competitive nature of the mid-size-crossover segment, don’t expect any upward movement on the Pilot’s current $30,700 base price.

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*AccuPayment estimates payments under various scenarios for budgeting and informational purposes only. AccuPayment does not state credit or lease terms that are available from a creditor or lessor, and AccuPayment is not an offer or promotion of a credit or lease transaction.